ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The study aims to examine the extent to which the updated ACC/AHA management of blood cholesterol guideline (2018) is implemented in practice and to assess the value of the clinical pharmacist interventions in improving physicians' adherence the guidelines recommendations. METHODS: We utilized in this study an interventional before-after design. The study was conducted on 272 adult patients who visited the study site internal medicine clinics and were candidates for statin therapy based on the 2018 ACC/AHA guidelines for cholesterol management. Adherence to guideline recommendations was measured before and after clinical pharmacists' interventions by calculating the percentage of patients receiving statin therapy as per guideline recommendation, the type and intensity (moderate or high intensity) of statin therapy used, and the need for additional non-statin therapy. RESULTS: Adherence with guideline recommendations was significantly improved from 60.3% to 92.6% (X2 = 79.1, p = 0.0001) after clinical pharmacist interventions. Among patients who were on statin therapy, the percentage of those who were on proper statin intensity increased significantly from 47.6% to 94.4% (X2 = 72.5, p = 0.0001). The combination of statins with non-statin therapies such as ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors increased from 8.5% to 30.6% (X2 = 95, p<0.0001) and from 0.0% to 1.6% (X2 = 6, p = 0.014), respectively. The use of other lipid-lowering agents was diminished from 14.6% to 3.2% (X2 = 19.2, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Collaboration between physicians and clinical pharmacists is a crucial strategy to improve patients' treatment and hence, achieve better health outcomes among patients suffering from dyslipidemia.
Subject(s)
Cardiology , Cardiovascular Diseases , Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors , Hypercholesterolemia , Adult , Humans , United States , Proprotein Convertase 9 , Pharmacists , Hypercholesterolemia/drug therapy , Hypercholesterolemia/chemically induced , Cholesterol , Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Guideline AdherenceABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients and their healthcare providers' are in need to access a correct and complete list of all patients' active bills for safe and effective clinical care. Currently, Healthcare Information Systems are not providing a proper access to the patients' medications lists. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of community pharmacist-led medication reconciliation process in community pharmacies in the UAE through applying a pharmacist-patient-centered medication reconciliation (PPCMR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an interventional study of medication reconciliation process in 25 pharmacies in the UAE during July 1, 2019 till September 1, 2019. The participant pharmacists were surveyed and interviewed to gather more information about the barriers and enablers of the process before and after the implementation of PPCMR. RESULTS: After the implementation of PPCMR, medication reconciliation service was available in 84% of the pharmacies compared to 40% before the PPCMR (Z = -2.84, P = 0.005). The main workforce barriers to implement this service were reduced to 27% compared to 47% before the PPCMR. The operational barriers for the service were decreased from 56% to 28%. The facilitators in delivering the service in community pharmacies were improved from 29% to 63%. The active collaboration between the pharmacists and physicians was enhanced from 28% to 72% (Z = -3.2, P = 0.001) in the participated pharmacies. There is a statistically significant difference toward the impact of the PPCMR on the whole medication reconciliation service χ2(df = 3) = 200, P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: Community pharmacists are not always accessible or well placed to provide a medication reconciliation service. The implementation of PPCMR in each community pharmacy will raise the expectations regarding the appropriateness of medication management and use.
